Rockford’s Most Commonly Broken Law Could Cost You $125 Or More

Rockford Police are warning residents to remember the safety and fines attached to a law a lot of us break every winter.

The gray lies in the conversation of personal property, because according to the law,

Unattended motor vehicles. No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

Your driveway is immediately out as an exception to the law, but what about your garage? Even more, there's much worse that can happen. You're just asking for someone to steal your car. It's no joke. Rockford Police are advising residents to not leave your car idling unattended because vehicle thefts have risen in Rockford, according to mystateline.com.

The City of Rockford has seen a seven percent increase in auto thefts this year, with 380 cases through October, compared to 354 cases in the same time frame last year.

When explaining the situation further, Sergeant David Cone said, "They'll either joy ride in the vehicle or they will use that vehicle for another criminal intent." That is unless your with the car or have it locked and using remote start. But what if you don't have remote start? Sergeant Cove said this to mystateline.com, "Sit in the cold and have that vehicle warm up and you're going to have to be cold for a period of time."